Man Hit by Train on the East Side

 

Man Struck by Train, Hospitalized in San Antonio

According to a KSAT News report, a San Antonio man was hospitalized after being struck by a train early late at night on the East Side.

The incident occurred on the railroad crossing at South New Braunfels Avenue and Westfall Avenue, where police reported a man was on the tracks for unknown reasons when he was struck by a train. It was unclear why the unidentified man was on the tracks, but he was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where he is expected to recover.

Did You Know?

Texas receives 208 million tons of rail freight each year, more than any other state.

Railway Accidents in Texas

Although railroads aren’t used as much now as they were in the past, it doesn’t mean that railway accidents are no longer a threat. In fact, trains are estimated to kill 1 person every 100 minutes in the United States.

Railway Accident Statistics (2021)

The Federal Railroad Administration lists interesting data when it comes to pedestrian (cars, commercial vehicles, people on foot) accidents on railways in the United States.

• There were 683 non-fatal accidents at highway crossings in 2021
• There were 236 fatalities at highway crossings in 2021
• Highway rail incidents accounted for 22.7% of all reported railway accidents
• There were 582 fatal trespasser* incidents in 2021
• There were 525 non-fatal trespasser incidents in 2021
• Trespasser and Highway incidents accounted for 95.45% of all fatalities reported on railways in 2021

*trespassers are anyone crossing where there is no railway crossing.

Almost all fatalities reported on railways are motorists and pedestrians, which is not surprising considering that 80% of crossings lack adequate warning devices like lights and gates.

Negligence and Train Accidents

A common cause of railway accidents in Texas and throughout the United States is negligence. There are multiple parties who could be considered negligent in a train accident in Texas, including:

• Operators – failing to provide adequate warning, leading to an accident.
• Railway Companies – failing to install updated safety equipment, often due to the hefty investment costs.
• Equipment Manufactures – distributing faulty equipment that malfunctions despite being used correctly.

Oftentimes, when a motor vehicle or pedestrian is hit by a train, it is because they were behaving recklessly, such as trying to beat a train or crossing where there is no railway crossing. However, there are cases when equipment failure or operator failure recklessly endangers motorists and pedestrians, leading to catastrophic accidents. When this is the case, victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

Injuries from Train Accidents

Vehicles that collide with trains are almost 40 times more likely to end in a fatality than when colliding with vehicles of comparable size. When the passengers do survive, injuries are often catastrophic and commonly include:

• TBI
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Internal Organ Damage
• Broken Bones
• Emotional Trauma and Psychological Injuries

If you or a loved one was injured in a train accident that was not your fault, there may be multiple parties liable for your damages. Contact an experienced auto accident attorney in Texas to find out.

Auto Accident Attorneys in Texas

If your vehicle was struck by a train in an accident that was not your fault, seriously injuring you or a loved one, contact the auto accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw today. We have thirty years of experience representing the injured in San Antonio and across Texas, and we put our clients first. Contact us today via live chat or by phone at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.